Dog Dies of Head Wound in Central Park, Owner Tells Cops He Thought Pup Was Shot

A dog has been found dead with a cut to its head while walking in Central Park with its owner - who initially told cops the pup had been shot.

David Burke, 55, was walking his dog, Duke, a 4-year-old black Labrador-Great Dane mix, off-leash just after 11 p.m. on Tuesday when the pooch ran off near the northwest corner of the park and West 110th Street, officials and a police source said.

Burke heard his pup yelp and saw him roll down a hill, and when reached the dog, he was laying down and had a mark below its right eye, a police source said.

Burke owner first believed Duke had been shot, but the dog's injury was inconsistent with a gunshot wound, the source said. He told police he did not hear any shots or see anyone suspicious in the park, the source said.